Priesthood Power

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the April 2012 General Conference.

We raised four boys to adulthood and every one of them had, and has an interest in guns, explosives, and such. They all have or are serving in the military. They all own guns; and shooting activities are always part of our family reunions. As they were growing up I tried to impress on them that while guns and bombs are powerful, there is something much more powerful and they possess it.

Just recently my sister asked me what my favorite Old Testament story is. That's easy, it's the story of Elijah and the Priest of Baal. I told her that if I could time travel that's what I'd like to see! Elijah is the coolest prophet ever! Then she asked what is the personal message to me. "The priesthood is the most powerful force!" 

Elder Adrián Ochoa spoke to the "Aaronic Priesthood", asking them to "Arise and Use the Power of God." I loved it!! So much so that I sent the link to our oldest son, who is the most vocal about needing more guns to protect his family and possessions. 

What greater power can you acquire on earth than the priesthood of God? What power could possibly be greater than the capacity to assist our Heavenly Father in changing the lives of your fellowmen, to help them along the pathway of eternal happiness by being cleansed of sin and wrongdoing?

You are often told about your great potential. Well, now is the time to put that potential into action, to make use of the abilities God has given you to bless others, bring them out of obscurity and into the light, and prepare the way of the Lord.

I am reminded of what President Russell M. Nelson said to the men in April 2016,

I urgently plead with each one of us to live up to our privileges as bearers of the priesthood. In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who has paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity.

The proclamation on the family says that husbands are to preside, provide and protect. It is through the use of priesthood power that men can do so. The priesthood is truly the most powerful force in the world. Through it miracles are wrought. 

 

 

 

Two Kinds of Men

From the writings of Ralph Moody, in Little Britches, Father and I were Ranchers:

"Son," he said, "I had hoped you wouldn't run into anything like this till you were older, but maybe it's just as well. There are only two kinds of men in this world: Honest men and dishonest men. There are black men, and white men and yellow men and red men, but nothing counts except whether they're honest men or dishonest men.

"Some men work almost entirely with their brains; some almost entirely with their hands; though most of us have to use both. But we all fall into one of the two classes--honest and dishonest.

"Any man who says the world owes him a living is dishonest. The same God that made you and me made this earth. And He planned is so that it would yield up its wealth in exchange for the labor of man. Any man who tries to share in that wealth without contributing the work of his brain or his hands is dishonest.

"Son, this is a long sermon for a boy of your age, but I want so much for you to be an honest man that I had to explain it to you.

I wish I knew how Father was able to say things so as to make you remember every word of it. If I could remember everything the way I remember the things Father told me, maybe I could be as smart a man as he was.